title: Vitamin D supplements enhance weight gain and nutritional status in pregnant Asians.
abstract: In a double blind trial of supplementary vitamin D (1000 iu daily) administered in the last trimester of pregnancy to Asian women living in London, supplemented mothers gained weight faster (63.3 g/day) than those in the control group (46.4 g/day), and at term had significantly higher plasma levels of retinol binding protein and thyroid binding prealbumin indicating better protein-calorie nutrition. Maternal weight gain correlated with postpartum levels of both retinol binding protein and thyroid binding prealbumin. Almost twice as many infants in the unsupplemented group weighed under 2500 g at birth, and had significantly lower retinol binding protein levels than infants of supplemented mothers. The nutritional benefits of supplementation provide further support for the routine administration of vitamin D to all British Asians during pregnancy.
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000187:drug effects*; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013975:Thyroxine-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D004872:Ergocalciferols; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013975:Thyroxine-Binding Proteins